Series Also Stars Anton Yelchin and Andy Comeau

Scott Winant Serves As Director

 

 

HOLLYWOOD, CA: January 9, 2004 - A psychiatrist who lacks balance and clarity in his own life, while struggling to help others achieve these goals, will be the subject of !HUFF, the newest SHOWTIME series for 2004, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc. The series, which consists of a one-hour pilot and 12 additional episodes, is slated to air on SHOWTIME in the summer of 2004.

 

!HUFF stars multiple Emmy® Award winning actor and noted voice artist Hank Azaria (Tuesdays With Morrie, The Simpsons, The Birdcage) as psychiatrist Craig Huffstodt. Azaria is joined by Paget Brewster (Friends), Anton Yelchin (Taken, Hearts In Atlantis) and Andy Comeau (One Hour Photo, 8 Heads In A Duffle Bag) with Emmy® nominee and Tony® Award winner Blythe Danner (Meet The Parents, The Prince of Tides, The X Files) and Emmy® nominee Oliver Platt (The West Wing, Pieces of April).

 

The one-hour pilot is produced for SHOWTIME by Sony Pictures Television and is written by the show's creator, Bob Lowry (Any Day Now, Profiler). Scott Winant, who directed the pilot for the hit SHOWTIME series DEAD LIKE ME, as well as episodes of Carnivale, The West Wing and My So Called Life, will serve as director of the !HUFF season premiere and producer on the series.

 

Mike Newell (Mona Lisa Smile, Donnie Brasco, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Enchanted April), Cameron Jones (Traffic) and Bob Lowry serve as executive producers. Azaria and Nancy Sanders serve as the show's producers. Danielle Gelber is the creative executive on behalf of Showtime Networks Inc.

 

Dr. Craig Huffstodt, better known as “Huff,” is a successful psychiatrist who is thrown into turmoil after a 15-year-old patient, who had just "come out" to his parents, commits suicide in Huff’s office. Forced to stay home now that his office is a crime scene, Huff must endure the conflicting personalities and complicated alliances within his own family. He is also under the burden of possible legal liability regarding the suicide and his own feelings of guilt and failure for his patient.

Amidst the turmoil, Huff finds himself plagued by a rich fantasy life populated by, among others, a random homeless Hungarian man who he is never sure is really there, but who makes Huff feel like a good person despite his internal struggles. Huff’s lawyer and good friend Russell (PLATT) serves both as the voice of reality and provides comic relief with his one-liners and crass sense of humor. Huff’s family consists of his son Byrd (YELCHIN, brother Teddy (COMEAU), his antagonistic mother Izzy (DANNER), who is critical and nosey, but means well, and his strong-willed wife Beth (BREWSTER).  

This is the story of a psychiatrist who has spent his entire life helping others find peace and clarity while his own state of mind is in constant question. The suicide of his patient has now forced him to re-evaluate everything. We watch as a midlife crisis erupts into brief outbursts of delusion. The series is interspersed with fantasy sequences which expose Huff's take on his family and work as he struggles with his daily life.

 

!HUFF adds to a successful slate of SHOWTIME series that includes proven hits such as QUEER AS FOLK returning for its fourth season, SOUL FOOD returning for its fifth and final season, THE CHRIS ISAAK SHOW returning for a third and final season, DEAD LIKE ME, PENN AND TELLER: BS! and FAMILY BUSINESS which were all renewed for a second season earlier this year and the debut series THE L WORD, which begins January 18.

 

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) is one of the television industry’s leading content providers. SPT produces and distributes top-rated, award-winning programming in every genre, including series, movies and family entertainment for network and cable television; first-run syndicated series; off-network syndicated programs; and theatrical releases. SPT (www.sonypictuestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

 

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC xtra. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD®, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™. SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL®, which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal Studios. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.    Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME EXTREME® is available in Spain through a joint venture with Media Park and the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.